Exclusive: South Korean AI spots North Korean warship capsize in near real time

TelePIX’s satellite analysis tool identified the mishap at a North Korean shipyard and the recovery effort that followed

TelePIX analyzed satellite imagery of the warship accident at North Korea’s Chongjin Shipyard using Planet Labs’ SuperDove constellation. The blue overlay indicates the location of the capsized destroyer./TelePIX

A South Korean aerospace startup used artificial intelligence to detect the apparent capsizing of a North Korean warship within hours of the incident — a striking example of how satellite imagery and automated analysis are accelerating real-time insight into the secretive regime.

TelePIX, a Seoul-based satellite and data analytics firm, released an automated report on May 22 analyzing imagery captured before and after the apparent capsizing of a North Korean warship at a shipyard in Chongjin, a northeastern port city. The report, generated using the company’s proprietary AI system “SatChat,” identified changes near the dock where a newly built warship that appears to have capsized during a launch ceremony the previous day.

“The satellite image taken before the incident showed no anomalies,” TelePIX told ChosunBiz on May 26. “But in the post-incident image, a 105-meter-long and 15-meter-wide object was detected protruding from the dock into the sea — suggesting the vessel had capsized.”

The incident occurred May 21 at the Chongjin Shipyard, when a newly constructed 5,000-ton destroyer reportedly toppled during its launch. What made the mishap particularly notable was the presence of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who was said to be attending the ceremony in person. North Korea’s state media confirmed the incident the following day — an unusual move for a regime that rarely acknowledges military mishaps.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry released satellite imagery taken on May 15 showing the warship intact and docked ahead of launch. The U.K.-based Open Source Center also published satellite photos taken by Airbus after the incident. Some analysts speculate that the North may have rushed to announce the accident before foreign media could reveal it through satellite data.

North Korea’s new 5,000-ton-class destroyer is seen before it capsized during a failed launch on May 21, 2025./News1

TelePIX, which builds high-resolution cameras for satellites and provides image analysis services, was among the first private firms to independently confirm the mishap. The company’s SatChat platform — powered by a large language model — autonomously compared satellite images taken on May 20 and May 22 by the SuperDove satellite constellation operated by the U.S. firm Planet Labs.

According to the AI-generated report, the northern dock area at Chongjin Shipyard appeared normal in the May 20 image. But by May 22, SatChat detected a large structure overlapping the dock wall by 20 to 30 meters, with an exposed surface area of roughly 1,600 square meters.

The full vessel, including parts visible below the water surface via shadow analysis, was estimated to be about 130 meters long. The ship appeared to be tilted at an angle of 60 to 70 degrees — consistent with South Korean government reports that said the bow had run aground while the stern remained submerged.

The analysis also identified the presence of several rectangular patches in blue and navy tones on the vessel, which appeared to be as tarps or camouflage sheeting used to conceal the warship from view. Satellite imagery further revealed signs of a recovery operation: a large orange structure — likely a crane — appeared near the central pier, and three floating barges were positioned close to the wreck.

Oil slicks roughly 200 meters in length were also detected between the dock and the work vessels. Two white rectangular modules, believed to be temporary command centers or generators, were newly installed on the western pier.

The AI suggested that once the crane is repositioned along a north-south axis, more intensive salvage operations such as raising or cutting the vessel could begin. The size and positioning of the tarps may also provide clues about damage to the ship and the pace of repairs, according to the report.

“The SatChat system allowed us to independently confirm a chain of events — from the failed launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer, to its partial sinking, and the subsequent emergency recovery effort,” a TelePIX spokesperson said. “So far, we have not observed any secondary damage affecting port infrastructure or broader logistics operations.”